Modular Frame System

Abstract

A modular frame system includes of one or more frame bodies 10 of injection molded plastic and a removable image holder 20 mounted on the interior perimeter surface of the frame body bezel by deflectable ridges or tabs 33 . The frame body preferably includes integrally molded removable props 40 for holding the frame horizontally or vertically on a horizontal surface at about sixty-four degrees. The frame body bezel 12 include hollow portions 19 to receive specially formed connectors 50 so that a plurality of frame bodies can be precisely interconnected preferably for wall display and to store the connectors when not being so used. Frame body includes an inner portion 23 with a broad back surface 26 for adhesive hook-and-loop fastener 27 attachment to a wall. The image holder includes upstanding perimeter walls 31 to define a volume for holding a plurality of flat lamina such as photographs 62 backing cards 60 and aperture mats 61.

1 . A modular picture frame including at least,
 a rectangular frame body of a predetermined overall rectangular shape, the frame body includes a surround with a substantial depth dimension which defines an inner edge and an outer perimeter of the general rectangular shape,   an image holder removably mountable within the inner edge of the frame body, the image holder has a generally planar, transparent front through which an underlying image can be viewed, and at least one upstanding wall integrally formed with the transparent front and extending away from the plane of the transparent front, the upstanding wall has at least one detent on a distal edge that is sized to releasably engage the inner edge of the frame body, the upstanding wall is sized to define, together with the transparent front, a cavity with a depth dimension adequate to contain and store at least several thicknesses of paper-based images when the surround is engaged by the wall detent.   
   
   
       2 . The modular picture frame of  claim 1  wherein the image holder has a translucent perimeter portion around the edges of the transparent front that is dimensioned such that at least the wall detent is partially obscured when viewed through the translucent perimeter portion. 
   
   
       3 . The modular picture frame of  claim 1  wherein the translucent perimeter has a surface texture which at least partially obscures the edge portions of an image when viewed through the transparent front. 
   
   
       4 . The modular picture frame of  claim 3  wherein when the image is a photograph with reorder information printed on an edge portion of the photograph, this reorder information underlies the translucent perimeter. 
   
   
       5 . The modular picture frame of  claim 2  wherein the translucent perimeter has corner edges that connect the generally flat front with the edge portions, with these corner edges are rounded to an outer radius of around one-quarter inch. 
   
   
       6 . The modular picture frame of  claim 1  further including at least one connector sized and shaped to releasably attach one frame body to a similarly constructed frame body when the two frame bodies are mounted near one another on a wall or the like. 
   
   
       7 . The modular picture frame of  claim 5  wherein the frame body includes at least one cavity extending into the surround from the backside thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The modular picture frame of  claim 6  wherein the frame body includes a cavity sized to store at least one connector. 
   
   
       9 . The modular picture frame of  claim 1  wherein the image holder is releasably attached to the frame body by the at least one detent so that when the frame body is attached to a wall or the like, the frame body need not be removed from its attached condition on a wall when removing or placing an image within the image holder, whereby the modular frame body is constructed to be front loading. 
   
   
       10 . The modular picture frame of  claim 9  further including a hook and loop fastener adhesively adhered to the back of the frame body such that the modular frame system can be attached to a wall surface but removable therefrom, whereby while the frame body is attached to the wall by the hook and loop fastener, the image holder can be removed from the front of the frame body to permit changing the image to be displayed through the transparent front of the image holder without having to detach the frame body from the wall. 
   
   
       11 . The modular picture frame of  claim 1  wherein the depth dimension of the cavity is adequate to store up to twenty conventional photographs. 
   
   
       12 . The modular picture frame of  claim 1  wherein the frame body has a front side float coated with a decorative opaque coating. 
   
   
       13 . The modular picture frame of  claim 1  wherein the frame body has preferably two props sized and shaped to support the frame body generally upright on a horizontal surface such as a desk. 
   
   
       14 . The modular picture frame of  claim 13  wherein the props are integrally molded to an inner portion of the frame body, the frame body has at least one cavity in a back surface of the frame body sized to grippingly receive an end of each prop. 
   
   
       15 . The modular picture frame of  claim 14  wherein the prop includes a horizontal surface engaging edge and a connector edge. and wherein connector edge has an L-shape in cross section whereby when the prop is inserted in the frame body cavity, the prop is held perpendicular to the overall plane of the frame body and positioned generally coplanar with the adjacent outer perimeter of the surround. 
   
   
       16 . The modular picture frame of  claim 15  wherein prop is shaped such that when assembled to the frame body, the prop supports the frame body at approximately 64 degrees from the horizontal surface on which the supported frame is placed. 
   
   
       17 . The modular picture frame of  claim 6  having several of the connectors, each of these several connectors has two ends, each of the ends sized to fit snugly into at least one cavity on the back side of the frame body, and a middle portion positioned between the two ends, the middle portion is sized to precisely space a frame body from a similarly constructed frame body when the two frame bodies are connected to the ends of a connector, such that when one picture frame assembly is mounted on a wall with connectors in place, the similarly constructed frame when connected to the connectors may be positioned precisely relative to the first frame. 
   
   
       18 . The modular picture frame of  claim 17  wherein if the first frame body is level when attached to a wall surface, a thus connected frame body will be also level. 
   
   
       19 . The modular picture frame of  claim 6  wherein the frame body has four perimeter sides defining an overall rectangular frame shape, each of the four perimeter sides has appropriately sized cavities in its back sized to receive the ends of the connectors, whereby a plurality interconnected arrangements of frame bodies can be created. 
   
   
       20 . The modular picture frame of  claim 1  wherein The frame body has an interior flange extending from the inward facing edge at the back face of the surround, the interior flange has a broad front surface and a similarly broad rear surface, the front surface includes information in the form of an embossed or de-bossed text or graphics, whereby such information is readable through any conventional opaque float coating on the front surface of the frame body. 
   
   
       21 . The modular picture frame of  claim 20  wherein the interior flange has markings for locating the adhesive hook and loop fasteners, and has apertures therethrough for use with conventional penetrating wall fasteners.